Safety match packet



May 23, 1950 A. A. GOSS'ELIN SAFETY MATCH PACKET I Filed June 5, 1947 Fig.3

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Ailo'rney Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,508,710 SAFETY MATCH PACKET Achille A. Gosselin, Long Beach, Calif. Application June 5, 1947, Serial No. 752,697

This invention relatesto a safety match packet of the type in which a match comb is slidably mounted in a protecting cover and adapted to be withdrawn from the cover an amount suflicient to permit a single match to be torn off, while protecting the remaining matches within the cover from accidental ignition.

More specifically defined, the invention relates to an all-paper package which can be formed sufficiently cheap to permit it being given away with cigarettes or other purchases, which willprovide blank space which can be utilized for advertising purposes and which packages are intended to be thrown away after the last match end has been,

abstracted from the package.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of match packet of the type outlined, which can be made cheaply with the least amount of material and with the least amount of skilled labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packet in which only a single or at least only a pair of match ends or shanks may be exposed at any one time, while the remaining match ends are housed within the shield and thus prevented from accidental ignition while the withdrawn match is being struck on an exposed strike surface.

Broadly, this latter objective is attained by an arrangement of telescopic paper-like parts by means of which the operator by pushing on the shank of one of the matches, threaded through a pair of slits in the cover, projects the comb and a single match, or a pair of matches, out beyond the open end of the shield, the shifting or sliding movement of the comb being at right angles to the length of the match shanks, thus ensuring the complete exposing of an end match and the easy severing of the same from the next adjacent match shank and all of the remaining matches.

Still another object of the invention is to provide locking means between the match comb and the shield for the dual function of slidably securing the match comb within the shield and for the purpose of insuring unilateral movement of the comb so that it may be shifted to and from its protected position in the shield without danger of completely leaving the shield.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of the assembled back of the shield or cover, showing the match retain- 5 Claims. (01. 206-29) ing slits with a match shank threaded therethrough, V

Figure 2 is a'sectional end elevation taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 3 is a face view of the assembled front of the cover or shield showing the match striking surface,

Figure 4 is a face view of the assembled back of the shield or cover showing the match comb protruding from one end preparatory to tearing off a match, 1

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2 showing a match threaded through the retaining slits and the match comb protruding from the end preparatory to tearing off a match, and

Figure 6 shows the blank from which the shield or cover is formed.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, an improved packet of matches I'D, containing comb securing and motion limiting slits II and I2, is provided by cutting or stamping a blank Ina of paper, cardboard, or other suitable material as indicated in Figure 6, applying a suitable match striking surface l3 adjacent one edge, suitably bending or folding the blank on or between the pairs of lines [4 and I5, looping or threading one of the matches l6, preferably the end match, of the match comb l1 through the slits II and I2, and securing the overlapping ends lb and Inc of the blank lea or cover [0 together by means of glue or in any other suitable manner.

While the slits I i' and 12 are shown for purposes of illustration as having arcuate shape they may be straight or bear any suitable angular relationship with each other as their main purpose is to permit the threading therethrough of a match shank or stem without unduly weakening the back of the packet cover.

The operation for obtaining and striking a match may be performed by holding the packet between the thumb and second finger of the left hand while the first finger gently forces the shank of the match threaded through the slits toward one side of the packet until a match emerges where it may be readily torn off with the right hand and struck on the abrasive striking strip without danger of igniting the balance of the matches in the packet.

Inasmuch as most paper match combs consist of two strips of matches, these strips may be secured together at their bottoms by means of glue or in any other suitable manner as will provide a single unit match comb of one or more layers of matches. It will be readily understood that while a double layer of matches is generally used, the comb may be formed of one, two or even three layers of matches if desired.

It will also be understood that the entire operation or method of packaging matches in this manner may be automatically and efficiently performed by machinery, thus eliminating labor costs.

It lists ba lss c st qd th t as qus-m dinca tions and chanaesmay be made inthis invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. The method of making a match packetycomprising forming in a blank of papen-lilcemategial; a pair of slits whose length is substantially equal to the width of the packet, threading through said slits a match attached to a match comb, folding said blank to; enclose said comb, and elite togethe the e z app pa end oi sai blank.

-,..A match. acket elebr ties as enclo car s n y ssd on Que s e w th a pa slit whose length is substantially equal t9 the width 931 s id: ar r. a ma ch, qqmh s s a n n a p r ity. mat hes en q ss ry aisi' over. ne of said matches, threaded through said slits toreta i taid om l abi ato s de ay motion, in

ale cpyr iir ss n pr. secu ing o e her h i? wi a match an con aining. a n uw rality of matches enclosed by said cover, one of said matches threaded through said slits to retain said comb, subject to sideways motion, in said cover, and means for permanently securing together the ends of said cover.

4. A match packet comprising an enclosing cover provided on one side with a pair of slits whose length is substantially equal to the width of said cover, a match comb containing a plurality-c m t ss cl s qr a sa d. o e o e of said matches threadedlthroug-hsaid slits for re- .saidr e and-.asmats ioi. said, omb. hn a thrp sh..said.sl. sfcr,n cntiono i a dcomb;subi st .tasidew s moticznh nzsaidfco en.

AGHM I ALGOSSELIR,

R N E; G TE The following references; are: 01-; record; in.L the file, of this --uatent; Y

UNITED SEATES'PPAH'ENBFS 

